Oliver Jarvis is on the hunt for new drive and most likely a new team after Audi announced they are to withdraw from the World Endurance Championship, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, at the end of this year.

Jarvis, 32, has been with Audi for nine years, four in DTM before switching to sportscars in 2012, but accepts that a parting of the ways now appears likely.

“At the moment I’m quite philosophical about it,” he said.

“I was very lucky to be involved in such an amazing programme.

“As with everything, good things come to an end. I appreciate the opportunities that I had and am ever so grateful to have been in the fight for Le Mans wins and World Endurance Championship victories.

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“At the moment it’s about getting my head down and trying to figure out what the plan is for the next year and beyond. With them ending the programme it’s unlikely I’ll stay with Audi.

“There’s a discussion to be had. I think there will be other cuts in their motorsport programme but I’ve still got to speak with the bosses."

Focus on next year

For the last two years Jarvis has raced in full WEC campaigns, sharing one of two Audi R18s with Loic Duval and Lucas Di Grassi.

They finished third at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, Jarvis’ third appearance on the podium after third place finishes in 2012 and 2013.

Jarvis continued: “It’s tough because we’ve really grown together as a strong team.

“We still have two races left (in this year’s WEC) but it’s a shame not to have more wins to really prove what we’re capable of. We could have gone on to win Le Mans and numerous world championships."

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Jarvis’ focus remains on what is left of this year’s championship, but he now has to turn his attention towards securing a drive for next year.

Remaining in the WEC is the priority but with the year coming towards an end, finding a new team will not be easy.

“I really like what I’m doing this year, the WEC is a fantastic championship,” said Jarvis.

“That would be the first place I look.

“With the announcement coming so late in the year, a lot of drives will already be taken. Hopefully there will still be a few things out there. But all of a sudden the driver market is flooded with top drivers.”

Jarvis also believes there will be wider repercussions across motorsport following Audi’s announcement.

“It’s such a shame, not just for myself and the other drivers, but everyone else involved as well as the wider world of motorsport as Audi have been such an integral part of the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans.

“It leaves the WEC down to two types of LMP1 cars, and at Le Mans Audi have played such an important role for the last 18 years.

“It’s such a shame to think they won’t be there in the future. “

'Doubts and suspicions'

Rumours of Audi withdrawing from the championship to switch their motorsport commitments to the all-electric Formula E series had been circulating in recent weeks but to have it confirmed that the LMP1 programme will end this year was a surprise.

“We only got told officially this morning but there had been rumours and whispers going around for a while,” said Jarvis.

“The biggest surprise was that it’s ending this year, we thought it might be next year.

“In the last week I started to get a feeling this was coming and I started to have my doubts and suspicions.”

Oliver Jarvis (far right) on the podium with co-drivers Lucas di Grassi (left) and Loic Duval after finishing second at the Six Hours of Nurburgring during the 2016 World Endurance Championship.

Jarvis and his co-drivers are still in contention for this year’s title as they are currently third in the drivers’ standings with the Six Hours of Shanghai on November 6 and the Six Hours of Bahrain on November 19 still to come.

“It (Audi’s announcement) makes the last two races even more important,” said Jarvis.

“Bahrain being our last race of the year will be very special.

“If we could finish the season on a high that would be great for everyone involved. We’re still a long way back and have a lot of work to do, to some extent it’s out of our hands and we’re relying on the (leading) No 2 Porsche (of Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas) having a couple of bad races.”